Mailbox name plate bracket



sePf- 25, 1951 w. LA ROY TIMMoNs, sR 2,568,873

MAILBOX NAME PLATE BRACKET Filed March 3l, 1949 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. w. L. TIMMoNs, 5R.

ATTOR NEY Patented Sept. 25 1951 omroes'rnras venr-sirif O FF! C E This invention relates to detachable name plat'es for mail boxes or the like and more. particularly to anA improved bracket or clamping means'whereby suchdevices may be securellylretained in position. Y

leretoforer it has been customary to-'either painttheresidents-nameupon one or both sides of a mail box or where separate name. plates Wereprovided, to` permanently secure such. name plates to either the mail box or the supporting post or the like. Such structure necessitates the repainting of the name simultaneously with the repainting of the mail box and generally the removal of the mail box to the sign painters establishment with the accompanying annoyance of Waiting until the repainting of the name is completed with subsequent reinstallation of the box, all of which is both costly and annoying.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a readily detachable bracket which will carry the name plate whereby repainting of the mail box or repainting of the name may be accomplished independently of each other.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel type of bracket readily attachable with a minimum of eiort and without requiring cumbersome tools whereby a name plate may be suspended in associated relationship above a mail box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth which will be simple in construction and particularly durable, without wear or requiring replacement.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a name plate and bracket which may be economically manufactured and which by nature will be adjustable to appropriately fit upon mail boxes or the like of various sizes.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating a mail box with a name plate and bracket mounted thereupon in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary longitudinal section through the mail box illustrating the improved bracket in position; and,

Fig. 3, an enlarged detail perspective of a portion of the plate supporting rod illustrating thc clamping members in greater detail.

With continued reference to the drawings a mail box I D of conventional design includes a front end or pivotal door I I and a rigid rear end 1' Claim. (Cl. 411-125) I2. Asis customary in devices of this character 'the rear end closurey comprises a verticalv plate lwhich projects above the upper arcuate surface of the box and beneath the fiat bottom thereof'.

Preferably', the improved holder ofthe present invention comprises an L-shaped arm or rod I3 including a horizontally disposed portion I4- and ai vertically disposed portion I5, the latter ter- .minating in a threaded' extremity I6 for apurpose to be hereinafter more fully described".

A name plate I'F i'shingedl'yor otherwise' secured to the horizontal portion I4 in any desired manner; one convenient method being by a pair of spaced straps I8 adapted to surround the supporting rod and secured by riveting or the like to the name plate.

A flat plate-like upper bracket I9 is rigidly secured to the vertical portion I5 intermediate the length thereof. The distance between this point of attachment and the horizontal portion of thc rod may vary as desired in accordance with the width of the name plate. may be utilized for securing the bracket I9 to the rod I5 as by riveting, bolts, welding or the like.

The bracket I9 is provided on its upper extremity with a pair of inwardly directed spaced ears 20, each of which includes a downwardly directed hook-like portion 2I intended to engage with the top edge of the wall I2 of the mail box. It will be obvious that these ears or extensions are somewhat angularly disposed so as to be complementary to the arcuate surface with which this bracket is designed to engage.

A bottom clamping bracket 22 is provided of substantially U-shaped construction including a bottom wall 23 and an upwardly directed inner wall 24. The bottom wall 23 is provided with a centrally located aperture 25 of suicient diameter to permit the snug passage of the arm I5. As illustrated more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the inner wall 24 of the lower bracket 22 permits this bracket to embrace the lower edge of the wall I2 of the mail box whereby the structure may be securely maintained in position.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that when it is desired to install the bracket of the present invention upon a mail box the upper supporting member I9 is rst hooked into position. The lower clamp 22 is then positioned upon the threaded extremity of the rod I5 so that this clamp engages with the bottom edge of the Wall I2. Adjustment of a locknut 26 upon the threaded extremity I6 of the rod I5 will securely clamp the bracket in position with the name Any desired means plate I1 properly disposed above the mail box. When it is desired to remove the name plate for any reason it is only necessary to loosen the nut 26 a suiiicient distance to permit disengagement of the brackets I9 and 22 with the end wall l2.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that installation or removal is a matter of extreme simplicity and that within appropriate limits adequate adjustment may be had to compensate for mail boxes or other structures of varying sizes.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A bracket for attaching a name plate to the flanged end wall ofv a mail box comprising an L- shaped rod including a horizontally disposed portion and a vertically disposed portion having its lower extremity threaded, an upper clamping member comprising a relatively flat body portion xedly secured to said vertically disposed portion intermediate the extremities thereof and provided with spaced angularly disposed and downwardly directed hook portions for engaging the upper edge of the iianged end Wall of the mail box, said vertically disposed portion being of sumcient length to extend above said upper clamping member, a lower U-shaped clamping member of a configuration to embrace the bottom edge of the anged end wall, the intermediate portion of said lower clamping member being provided with an aperture within which the vertically disposed portion of said rod is slidably received, a nut threaded upon the lower extremity of said vertically disposed portion engaging said lower clamping member and retaining said clamping member in engagement with the lower edge of the iianged end wall of the mail box, and a. name plate mounted upon the horizontally disposed portion of said L-shaped rod.

WALTER LA ROY TIMMONS, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 936,254 Parsons Oct. 5, 1909 1,338,422 Chappell Apr. 27, 1920 1,466,465 Belling Aug. 28, 1923 1,789,740 Gelette Jan. 20, 1931 2,368,991 Kopp Feb. 6, 1945 2,431,108 Carleton et al Nov. 18, 1947 2,485,440 Friedhelm Oct. 18, 1949 

